That “black box” AI algorithm your practice just bought might look sleek on a demo screen—but when something goes wrong, it won’t be the software company signing the report. It’ll be you.

In this episode of Contrast & Clarity, Maddi and Jeff interview Ken Davis, Senior Counsel in Healthcare at Katten Law Firm, for a no-fluff conversation about the intersection of radiology, contract law, and the use of artificial intelligence. Together, we dive into the legal realities of AI implementation – and the due diligence that radiologists can’t afford to ignore.

We explore questions like:

·     What kind of due diligence should practices perform before deploying AI?

·     How do clinical vs. nonclinical AI tools differ from a liability standpoint?

·     Why is it important to try to see beyond the black box nature of an algorithm?

·     What should new radiologists know about the AI their group uses?

If your practice is using AI – or considering it – this episode is your legal reality check.

Find the prior relevant JACR articles here:

https://www.jacr.org/article/S1546-1440(25)00444-2/abstract

https://www.jacr.org/article/S1546-1440(25)00438-7/abstract

Find Ken Davis’ article “Top Ten Legal Considerations forUse and/or Development of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare”: https://shorturl.at/0CrE5

Find the additional article mentioned on patients’ views on the use of AI in healthcare: https://shorturl.at/iJ7ia

What happens when AI gets it wrong – and who’s actually on the hook?

In this episode of Contrast & Clarity with the JACR, we sit down with Tanya E. Karwaki, JD, PhD, author of the JACR opinion piece “Balancing Artificial Intelligence Risks and Benefits in an Evolving Legal Environment,” to unpack one of the most uncomfortable – but unavoidable topics in radiology AI: legal risk.

AI adoption in radiology is accelerating, with more than a thousand FDA-approved tools already in circulation. But the legal framework governing their use? Still very much under construction. Dr. Karwaki walks us through why increasing lawsuits may be inevitable, how malpractice standards evolve alongside new technologies, and what radiologists should understand about liability when AI recommendations are followed—or ignored.

From informed consent and data privacy to emerging state-level legislation and disclosure requirements, this conversation provides critical context for anyone navigating AI implementation in clinical practice today.

If you’re using AI, thinking about using AI, or wondering where the legal guardrails actually are—this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

Find the JACR article here: https://www.jacr.org/article/S1546-1440(25)00438-7/abstract

Artificial intelligence isn’t failing radiology. Our healthcareinfrastructure just isn’t ready for it.

In this episode of Contrast & Clarity with the JACR, we cut through the hype to tackle the real reason artificial intelligence hasn’t transformed radiology yet—and it’s not because the algorithms aren’t good enough.

Joined by Michael Bruno, MD, MS and drawing from insightshighlighted at the 2024 Intersociety Summer Conference, Maddi and Jeff unpack the systemic barriers holding AI back: legacy IT systems, fragmented data pipelines, regulatory uncertainty, and workflows that force humans and AI to coexist rather than collaborate.

We discuss:

• Why AI keeps getting treated as a “bolt-on” instead of afoundational tool

• The mismatch between AI’s potential and real-world clinicalworkflows

• Why ROI, governance, and trust—not accuracy—are stalling adoption

• What actually needs to change for AI to move from demo todeployment

This isn’t a conversation about shiny tools or futuristic promises.

It’s about systems, incentives, and the uncomfortable reality that AI won’t fix radiology until we fix the environment it’s deployed into.

If you’ve ever wondered why AI feels simultaneously inevitable and underwhelming—this episode is for you.

Find the JACR article here: https://www.jacr.org/article/S1546-1440(25)00444-2/abstract

Claim your CME credit here: https://shorturl.at/u6Hcj

What happens when the dream of remote radiology becomes a nightmare for practice culture?

Tune in as Maddi and Jeff are joined by Ivan DeQuesada, MD and Andrew Moriarty, MD to discuss onsite staffing concerns and the tensions between productivity, patient care, and the modern radiologist's desire for flexibility. From empathetic accountability to equitable hybrid scheduling and strategic work-from-home incentives, this discussion reveals why balancing autonomy and presence is crucial for private practice radiology.

Find the JACR article here: https://shorturl.at/0J0gI

How has the traditional radiology resident readout evolved in the post-pandemic era?

In this week's episode, Maddi and Jeff are joined by Shanna Matalon, MD, Sophia O'Brien, MD MSEd, and Scott Simpson, MD MSEd to talk about what trainees and faculty really think about side-by-side, remote, and asynchronous readouts, why feedback gaps persist, and how programs can improve the educational experience in hybrid environments. A must-listen for anyone involved in radiology training!

Find the JACR article here: https://shorturl.at/NOjj2

Claim your CME here: https://cortex.acr.org/Presenters/CaseScript/CaseView?Info=6U95sEWo3jaJM3JERvUep1s27mel6%2b%2bZUPcxFIuv1ms%253d

When USMLE Step 1 went pass/fail, the goal was to lower stress and level the playing field. Instead, it may have just moved the goalposts.

In this week's episode, Ruth Carlos, MD, MS, FACR and Megan Worthington, MS join Maddi and Jeff to talk about how the change to pass/fail for the USMLE Step 1 examination has reshaped the residency match - especially for competitive specialties like radiology. Although the move to pass/fail was supposed to fix student stress, it instead shifted the spotlight (and pressure) to Step 2, school prestige, and the alphabet soup of rankings.

Find the JACR article here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40541763/

Women make up half of the medical school graduates, but only a quarter of radiology residents.

In this episode, Maddi and Jeff are joined by Amy Patel, MD and Shiva Yagobian, BS to go beyond the statistics and explore the social, institutional, and policy-level barriers that shape the "leaky pipeline" from training to leadership. Whether you're a trainee wondering where all the women in leadership are - or a department leader looking to make real, sustainable change - this episode offers both the data and the direction to help close the gap.

Find the JACR article here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40216284/

As health systems and radiology practices continue to consolidate, education often ends up as collateral damage.

In this episode, Charlotte Taylor, MD joins Jeff and Maddi to discuss how radiology educators can adapt - and even thrive - when clinical demands and financial pressures are rising. From incentive scorecards and creative teaching models to intentional early resource allocation to enable tailored training, this conversation explores practical, scalable ways to preserve excellence in training the next generation of radiologists.

Find the JACR article here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40543532/

Claim your CME here: https://shorturl.at/LVxwh

What happens when hackers meet PACS? Nothing good for patient care.

Join us this week as Maddi and Jeff get insight from Po-Hao Chen, MD, MBA and Christoph Wald, MD, PhD, MBA on their brand-new ACR-SIIM white paper on radiology cybersecurity. We will explore ransomware, downtime drills, and the unglamorous but essential world of cyberhygiene.

Read the full JACR manuscript: https://www.jacr.org/article/S1546-1440(25)00409-0/fulltext

Want more cybersecurity resources? Visit: https://www.acr.org/Data-Science-and-Informatics/Informatics/cybersecurity-resources

Do labor unions really change the residency experience - or just the perception of it?

This week, Maddi and Jeff explore radiology residents' perspectives on labor union participation with Erica Kinne, MD, Elliot Varney, MD, PhD, and Lars Grimm, MD based on their most recent research. From vacation days and housing stipends to duty hours and wellness, radiology residents weighed in on both the perks and pitfalls of unionization.

Find the original JACR article here: https://www.jacr.org/article/S1546-1440(25)00203-0/fulltext